Tuesday 30 June 2015

#Excerpt + $25 Amazon Gift Card #Giveaway: Hope in Every Raindrop by Wesley Banks @wbauthor


Welcome to my tour stop for Hope in Every Raindrop by Wesley Banks. Hope in Every Raindrop by Wesley Banks is a clean new adult romance.  The tour runs from June 22nd to July 3rd.


About the Book:

“Small towns have big stories.” That was a lesson Katie’s father taught her years ago. A lesson she’s taken to heart. And right now, Katie is desperate for a big story. Reeling from the recent loss of her father and with her agent breathing down her neck for the next book, the twenty-one-year-old writer picks a spot on the map and finds herself bound for a middle-of-nowhere town called Bishopville, South Carolina.

Taking a chance on the words of a local grocer, Katie stumbles upon a rare breed of dogs raised by the town doctor and his nephew Kyle. The only problem? Kyle isn’t interested in telling stories—especially not to a big-city girl who can’t seem to sit still. In an attempt to win him over as the clock winds down, Katie finds herself immersed in Kyle’s world, doing everything but writing.

When inspiration finally strikes, Katie is faced with an unforeseen catastrophe and a truth she can no longer ignore. While she has come to love the dogs, the real story may be about Kyle Walker.

Kindle | iBooks | Nook | GooglePlay | Kobo | SmashwordsGoodreads

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EXCERPT - King Running (Page 135)

Without warning, white lightning ripped through the rain and echoed over the land. King turned towards the downslope with blurring speed, as if nature had fired the starting gun. He crossed the field in a matter of seconds as he raced towards them.

The dark sky let out a loud rumble and another flash of yellow blazed from the clouds.
Kyle raised his hand to his forehead as if to shield his eyes as King continued across the vast landscape. The sky opened up around them and rain poured down.

Katie brushed the cold water from her arms, barely registering the fact that she was getting wet. She couldn't take her eyes off King. Every movement he made seemed to have a specific purpose. It was similar to being in the sled, but this time he ran free.

He turned slightly to the left just before he approached a small divot, and then back right to avoid a thick patch of grass. He moved at a furious pace, unlike anything Katie had ever seen before. 
As he passed, Kyle stood and walked to the edge of the tree line, his eyes still following King.
Katie followed, both of them just watching. 


Katie didn't understand why the mere image of a dog running seemed to overwhelm her. She had seen lots of dogs run. But there was something different about this; something deeper. As a writer she hated clichés, but this time it was true.

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About the Author:


Wesley Banks was born in 1983 and grew up on the west coast of Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering. After spending over 7 years building movable bridges from Florida to Washington he decided to focus on his true passion: writing.

Wesley recently moved from Florida to Oregon to get back to the great outdoors that he’s love so much. He lives with my wife Lindsey, and his two dogs Linkin and Story. Most of his time these days is spent writing, with as much rock climbing, hiking, or skiing as they can fit in.

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Giveaway:

$25 Amazon gift card & 2 ebook copies of Hope in Every Raindrop (INT)
Ends 7/7
Giveaway is provided by the author, bloggers are not responsible for prizing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.


Saturday 27 June 2015

Review: Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid

Original Title: Never Always Sometimes
Author: Adi Alsaid
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: August 4th 2015
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult


Never date your best friend 

Always be original 

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken 

Best friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids—the ones who sit at the same lunch table every day, dissecting the drama from homeroom and plotting their campaigns for prom king and queen. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they'd never, ever do in high school.

Some of the rules have been easy to follow, like #5, never die your hair a color of the rainbow, or #7, never hook up with a teacher. But Dave has a secret: he's broken rule #8, never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It's either that or break rule #10, never date your best friend. Dave has loved Julia for as long as he can remember.

Julia is beautiful, wild and impetuous. So when she suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. He even dyes his hair an unfortunate shade of green. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they've actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.

REVIEW

Dave and Julia tries not to do anything cliché in their high school life.  They also make a list of 10 such activities.  Towards the end of the high school, they come across this list by accident, and decides to try those things at last.  Dave has love Julia for so long, but has no courage to come forward and say that to her.  And Julia is just plain crazy, well, crazy and fun..and good.  When they try on these clichéd things, they find that they had missed out on many things.  Dave makes new friends, sees a girl that he is interested in and even maybe love her.  But, just when things seem better for Dave, Julia finds that she is in love with Dave.  Things spiral down from there and the author has given a beautiful and realistic approach on the romance.

It's been a while since I had read such a fun book.  I was laughing through most of the book.  The snarky comments and immediate unexpected responses from Julia made the whole book so much more enjoyable.

"You realize this is insane, right?"
"You're mispronouncing 'genius.'"

Sometimes, I don't know whether the author is a sheer genius for making such statements,

"THERE WAS NO greater proof of an underlying human connection than the universal hatred of Monday mornings."

or plain crazy.

"The next morning Dave's hair not only looked like puke, but like puke that had been allowed to sit out overnight."

Seriously?  That comment about Dave's hair made me crack up for so long.

While this was the trend in the first half of the book, the second half of the book became a bit serious and then the climax realistic.

The characters, Julia and Dave, are so good and deep, that I felt like I knew them personally.  They have been so cut out from the world that they didn't even know the basic things every teenager knew for granted.  I loved how the author transformed their ignorance to something so beautiful.  Dave's brother and girlfriend are also another set of adorable characters.  And then there is Julia's mom - well, I don't want to use curse words, so I am leaving her out of this.

The climax is so realistic, no big dramas.  Just ended like real life. :)

Thanks for writing this, Adi!  I am definitely recommending this to anyone interested in fiction.

5 STARS!


Friday 26 June 2015

Spotlight & Giveaway: Love You Madly by Ashlee Mallory


Release date: May 16, 2015

Meredith Sanders was the golden girl in high school—a homecoming queen with a trail of worshipping minions. Now she's all grown up with a trail of failed marriages. The only good thing she has in her life is her brilliant and beautiful teenaged step-daughter...who's missing. But the best man for the job has a serious hate-on for her. 

Back in high school, queen bee Meredith made Travis Brennan's life miserable. Since then, he's gone from class geek to a hardened, former SEAL, specializing in private security. As much as he wants to help Meredith's step-daughter, he can't help but clash with the gorgeous woman who once made his life hell. 

But as they investigate the increasingly mysterious disappearance, their conflicted past threatens to turn into a very provocative present... 


Find it online:   Amazon * Barnes & Noble Kobo * iBooks * Goodreads

About the author:  

Ashlee was thirteen when she discovered her first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss book hidden away in her mom's closet. After two days of staying home "sick" from school to finish it, she was hooked. Her rabid love for romance has continued ever since and after a misadventure in the world of law, she is finally settling into her dream job of writing about people finding their happily ever afters.  

Author Links: @ashleemallory *  Facebook * WebsiteGoodReads * Pinterest * Tumblr    


Excerpt
She turned, about to toss the pill in her mouth, only to find Travis’s hulking body in front of her.
A scream tore from her mouth followed by the sound of shattering glass. Cold water splashed at her feet.
“Don’t move,” he said and stepped forward enough to grab her by the waist and lift her into his arms to carry her past the broken glass. It happened so fast that it took her a moment to realize that she was being held in the warm arms of the very man she’d come down to try to forget.
The thumping of his heart under her hand made her aware she had braced her hand against him.
And that he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Immediately she wanted to run her fingers across the smooth expanse of skin, to see if he’d tremble at her touch. She shook her head. Madness.
She should move her hand. There was no need to brace herself for anything now that they were completely still. But she was loath to remove it, the intimacy so comforting and heart-stopping at the same time. She looked up to see he was watching her, his mouth quirked in the slightest smile. So rare it made her stomach twist—not uncomfortably.
“I heard you on the stairs.” Of course he had. “Wanted to make sure you were okay. Did something happen?”
Other than realizing she’d completely lost her mind where this man was concerned? No. Nothing had happened. She shook her head.
True to his word, he had showered, and he now had a clean soapy smell, stronger than the more musky and sweaty scent of earlier, but neither less nor more appealing.
“Are you going to speak anytime soon? Because in the entire time I’ve known you, you’ve never stayed silent this long.”
How could she form words when it was taking every ounce of control she had not to press herself against that hard chest, to nuzzle his smooth skin with her mouth?
“If I set you down, you’re not going to faint, are you?”
Okay, now that was ridiculous. She’d never do anything so foolish. “I think I’ll manage,” she said, her tone more imperious than she’d intended, but at least she’d spoken.
He released her legs first, and she slid down his body. His smile disappeared.

GIVEAWAY


The author is giving away $25 Amazon Gift Card to a winner of the below Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Spotlight: Guardian of Werewolf Keep by Nhys Glover


Genre: Paranormal Romance

The first in the Trilogy Free on Amazon from June 24 – 28



"Perfect for readers who enjoy love stories with substance and a classical supernatural touch." Amazon Reviewer

 Philomena Davenport is shocked at her first sight of Breckenhill Keep, the monstrous ruin she had inherited from the father who had deserted her as a child. Even more shocking was the mysterious stipulation in the Will that required her to remain at the Keep for three months, before she could claim her inheritance. How could she do that when the Guardian of the Keep, the handsomely daunting Byron Carstairs, wants her gone, and the spine chilling howls echoing up from the bowels of the ruin urge her to escape while she still can? But Phil is made of firmer stuff than that. She will take on the denizens of this dark domain, and make the place her own. No monster or man would keep her from it, and only love could drive her away.

For Byron, Phil is a light in the darkness of his duty-bound life. He had never expected to meet someone as beautiful, courageous or compassionate as she. In only days, she manages to spin her magic around the hearts of all who dwell within the sanctuary. But no matter how much they needed her, it is no kindness to keep her there. She deserved far better than a burdened man and a castle filled with monsters. For her own good, he must drive her light from his dark life. 


AUTHOR BIO


After a lifetime of teaching others to appreciate the written word, Aussie author Nhys Glover finally decided to make the most of the Indie Book Revolution to get her own written word out to the world. Now, with more than 100,000 of her ebooks downloaded internationally and a winner of 2013 SFR Galaxy Award for 'The Titan Drowns', Nhys finds her words, too, are being appreciated.

At home in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales of England, Nhys these days spends most of her time "living the dream" by looking out over the moors from her window as she writes the kind of novels she loves to read. The ones that are a little bit steamy, a little bit different, and wholly romantic.

If you want more information, or to have some fun playing Nhys' divination game HEROES go to her website.

AUTHOR LINKS




Tuesday 23 June 2015

Review: Summer Queen by Amber Argyle


Author: Amber Argyle
Pub. Date: June 23, 2015
Publisher: Starling Publishing
Pages: 280
Formats: Paperback, eBook


A fugitive from the king she refused to marry, Nelay ventures out to save her family from the invading army only to discover the fate of her entire nation rests on her shoulders. 

But in defeat after defeat, Nelay begins to realize a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Only she can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of a goddess.

REVIEW

When I saw this book cover, I was so enthralled by it that I felt like I have to read this book.  Then I read the description and I just thought maybe it will not be as good as I expect.  By then, I accepted to review this and so, it's on my TBR list.

When I started reading, the magic that happens with all great books happened.  The real world disappeared completely and I started feeling bad to leave the book, even to eat and sleep.  And I am not even exaggerating on this.

The story begins with Nelay, a priestess, plotting to escape the King Zatal, who wants to marry her to save his land.  But, Nelay never wanted to be the Queen of Idara.  She wants to save her family and become High Priestess once she is back.  She pays the tribesman, Rycus, to get her from Idara to her family, without getting caught.  Rycus, along with his men, travels with Nelay in the hot desert lands, where anyone could be lost and dead.   What begins as a simple plan turns into much much more than that and even Gods and fairies are at play here.  Stuck in the tangled mess of the fight she cannot win, Nelay has to choose at every turn of her life, even when it comes to losing her love, ambition and life.

I didn't know that this was the second book in the series until I completed this one.  So, I assure you that you wouldn't need to read the first book to enjoy this one.

Nelay is a girl, who is ambitious, strong-willed and high-spirited.  Although at first she is just brought out a strong protagonist, her heart and spirit is known little by little as the story proceeds.  The best thing about this book is the character development.  All the characters have depth enough for the readers to really understand their mental state.  Rycus and his men are great company to the readers during the adventure..especially the stories of Rycus.  There is nothing I can predict in this book. Whatever I thought will happen, never happened.  Why I didn't read anything from this author before this is still a mystery to me. :)

Extremely well written and fast paced, this novel is one hell of a great book, that you wouldn't want to miss for anything.

5 STARS!

About the Author: 

Amber Argyle is the number-one bestselling author of the Witch Song Series and the Fairy Queen Series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.

Amber graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less crazy larger people.

To learn more about Amber, visit her blog at amberargyle.blogspot.com


You can find Amber on 
TwitterFacebookGoodreads, and Pinterest

GIVEAWAY

3 winners will receive the eBook bundle of The Faerie Queen Series. International

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule

Week One:
6/15/2015- Curling Up With A Good BookReview
6/16/2015- The Mad ReviewerReview
6/17/2015- Arkham ReviewsReview
6/18/2015- In Love With HandmadeReview
6/19/2015- In Libris VeritasReview

Week Two:
6/22/2015- Mythical BooksReview
6/23/2015- Books Are MagicReview
6/24/2015- The Bibliophile ChroniclesReview
6/25/2015- My Bookish EmpireReview

6/26/2015- bookaholics anonymousReview

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ESLYNNE SMITH (Author of Taming the Tida)


Welcome to the tour of Taming the Tida by Eslynne Smith.  The full tour schedule can be seen at http://www.elitebookpromotions.com/book-tours/.


In 2014 the nation was in crisis. Partisan politics were the rule of the day, stifling and sabotaging meaningful change in Washington. Americans were desperate for someone—anyone—to offer them hope, to show them there was indeed a light at the end of the tunnel.

That hope came in the form of Sharmin Smith, a contestant on the breakthrough reality show Who Wants to Be President? Designed to increase voter participation and heal a deeply divided nation, Who Wants to Be President? pitted contestants against each other in speeches on America's most pressing issues, from abortion and health care to immigration and the economy.

Smith, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, caught the country's attention, delivering her unusual, groundbreaking opinions with two service dogs by her side. She gave a nation hope, and in return, Americans gave her their trust.

The first book of the Change the World trilogy, Taming the Tida gives hope to those tired of contemporary political gridlock and looks to a brighter tomorrow.


A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ESLYNNE SMITH

- GUEST POST BY ESLYNNE SMITH

It’s summertime, YAY!  Oh, wait, it’s summertime, and I have three children living at home.  We are often the cool house for children to hang out at, I don’t think it’s because we are cool, I think it’s just because our house has an elevator.  So the number of children in my home can fluctuate on any given day from 3 to 12.  That’s ok though, I’d rather have them here, than worry about them somewhere else.

Every day starts the same way regardless of what day it is or how many children are calling my house home that day. My husband leaves for work early, I wake up tired, from restless sleep that is often the result of a nightmare and I stumble my weary body to my coffee pot before I take my dogs outside for their morning wrestling match.  I do not condone dog fighting. I do not understand why anyone would want to see an animal hurt.  However, I could watch my dogs wrestle with each other for hours.

Today my son began summer band camp, it was practically impossible to sit through his hour long lesson and listen to the teacher talk about tonguing and fingering the trumpet without remembering the movie American Pie. I realized I’m not ready for any of stories that start with ‘last summer, at band camp’ when the teacher asked my son to stay behind so he could speak with him in his office. I stood outside the office door watching them both until the teacher invited me in.  He didn’t want any parents feeling uncomfortable about why a student would be seen privately in his office, I told him I was definitely that parent. Some people might consider me overprotective and paranoid, I’m completely OK with that.

The rest of my day will be spent convincing these children that they don’t need to play video games or eat chips and ice cream all afternoon.  Eventually they’ll cave in, grab an apple and we’ll go outside to shoot some hoops together, toss some yard darts and if I’m really lucky they’ll feel like pretending to help me pull weeds.  Before long I’ll realize I forgot to fix dinner and order pizza. Pizza is probably the reason all the neighbor kids hang out at my house so often.  I’m ok with that, pizza is cheap, therapy is expensive. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Eslynne Smith is the Author of Taming the Tida, a fictional story about politics, religion and a Reality TV show. Eslynne was born in a naval hospital in Newport, RI just after the Navy’s 200th birthday. She has been following politics ever since her mother told her she was related to James K. Polk, the 11th President of The United States of America. She comes from a long line of military spouses and has been an enlisted spouse, a commissioned spouse and she is currently a retired spouse as her husband recently retired after 22 years of naval service.

She has held professional positions for over 20 years in the financial services industry, including the “Big 3”. She began by working in the accounting department for a computer company before she moved into auto finance and finally on to the mortgage industry. She obtained her Direct Endorsement from FHA to underwrite government loans in 2005 just before Hurricane Katrina hit. She held training and leadership roles where she did everything from write policies and procedures for default and collections to manage underwriting and repurchase teams during the recent mortgage crisis.

Eslynne was diagnosed with PTSD in the summer of 2008 from traumatic childhood events.  After years of multiple therapy techniques she accepted the advice of a trusted therapist and stepped away from her professional life to focus on her personal life. It was during this time that she embraced writing for pleasure and decided to undertake the Great American Novel. 


Monday 22 June 2015

Guest Post & Giveaway: Celtic Sister by Meira Pentermann


Welcome to the tour of Celtic Sister by Meira Pentermann.  The full tour schedule can be seen at http://www.elitebookpromotions.com/book-tours/.


A man looking for his sister meets a woman running from her past. A notebook filled with cryptic clues leads them on an unexpected adventure.

Celtic Sister is a tender portrayal of a woman propelled on the journey of her life - both literally and spiritually. Told with a compelling mix of realism and humor, the sensitive issues of marital abuse and alcoholism are woven into an unsolved mystery. The result is a meaningful tale of courage and love.

Buy @ Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


On slow, snowy days in her Colorado home, Meira Pentermann enjoys cozying up on the couch with a novel. Naturally, snow is not a requirement; neither is the couch. In fact, she sees no reason not to indulge in reading three-hundred-and-sixty-five days a year. Dystopian science fiction, mysteries, and young adult titles top her Kindle list, but legal thrillers and chik-lit make an appearance now and then.

When not absorbed in writing or reading, Meira enjoys life's little moments with her family - the love and devotion of her black lab, the quiet wisdom of her artistic twenty-five-year-old, the trials and triumphs of her petite ninth grader, and the unlimited encouragement offered by her Dutch husband.

Meira strives to write stories that deliver the unexpected. She prefers down-to-earth characters that look and behave like regular folks. The prom queen and Adonis take a backseat to reclusive, soul-searching heroines and quirky, introverted gentlemen.


IN MY HABITAT

- GUEST POST BY MEIRA PENTERMANN

Hi, Vidya. Thank you for inviting me to In My Habitat.

We’ve been living in the same house for over ten years, so this is where all my novels began – at a tiered computer desk, covered with office supplies and knick-knacks. I am very happy when I sit here. The clutter is cozy in a way. When I look at this picture, I realize I have a small obsession with calendars. Apparently, I really need to be grounded in the date. My older daughter gave me the “Grace” daily calendar in the center. It has rotating blocks, and I change it every day. My younger daughter creates themed monthly calendars every year for Christmas. This year’s theme is photos of our dog.



My office is located in the far corner of the house, away from the kitchen and living areas. When I really want privacy, I close the door and post a “Do Not Enter” sign. I have made a variety of signs over the years ¬¬– “Stop. Writing In Progress” – with quirky photos. One time I used a skull and crossbones, which now strikes me as a smidge on the hostile side. I must have been experiencing a lot of interruptions during that period. J

This is the view from my window, although I have to stand up and cross the room to see it. We really enjoy living on the open space. I used to walk my daughter to elementary school along that path. Now we walk the dog.


Speaking of the dog, Buddy is our lab/chow mix. He is practically glued to my hip. When I swivel my chair 180 degrees away from my computer screen, this is what I see.



The love of a dog is a truly amazing thing, almost a spiritual experience. . . But if he could stay in his bed, the carpet might be a little cleaner.

Finally, I love artwork, and I have a variety in my room – from paintings made by my children to pieces by local artists. Two of my favorites:


Green Girl by a Taos, New Mexico artist named Rory Wagner. This is a numbered print. I like the Johannes Vermeer-feeling of the piece.

Firefly Beach fans will love this – the original painting by Amy Feiman created in 2007 as a potential cover for Firefly Beach. Lyrical Press released Firefly Beach with a different cover in 2009, but when I took over the rights in 2012 and self-published the second edition of Firefly Beach, I was able to use Amy’s beautiful painting.


The light in the glass is a reflection of my camera flash. . . or is it?

Thank you for letting me share some details from my writing habitat. This has been a lot of fun.

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away ecopy of CELTIC SISTER to one winner of the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Spotlight: Second Chances by Abigail Lee Justice

Second Chances Blurb – 

Knowing that happily-ever-afters only happen in fairy tales, Sophie Spencer spends an amazing night with her Prince Charming. Being new to the lifestyle, she allows her hidden fears to take over and does the unthinkable. She screams her safe-word…and runs directly into danger. Will her moment of weakness cause her world to be torn apart again? Or will she overcome her trust issues and fully surrender to her Prince. 

Falling in love had been the furthest thing from Kyle Zellar’s mind, but when Sophie Spencer fully submits to his dominant demands, his only recourse is to claim her as his. Before he can claim her, he is forced to let her go. 

Fighting his inner demons and past issues of childhood abandonment, he knows he must sort out his own life before he can move on with his future. 

But will it be too little too late? 

Warning: This book contains adult content which may offend some readers; BDSM, spanking, punishment, wax play, piercing, bondage, and exhibitionism. 

~Author’s note. This is the second book in The Heart Series, and NOT a stand-alone. You may read them in any order you like, of course, but I would recommend you read Bound By Her Master first.

Pre-Order Links:








Abigail's Bio:

Abigail Lee Justice writes emotional, erotic, romantic suspense that includes a BDSM theme. She creates strong characters who seem real but are flawed in some ways; some couples Happily Ever After will be a work in process. Some characters’ problems are just too steamy to fix in one book. 

Born and raised in Baltimore City by two wonderful, supportive, loving parents, as a child Abigail made up vivid stories in her head. Until one day a friend told her instead of keeping her stories locked in her head she needed to put them on paper and that’s exactly what she did.

Abigail met her husband 29 years ago on a blind date (thanks Dan C.) while working a part time job to put herself through college. She fell madly in love with her Prince Charming and has been since the first day they met.

By day, Abigail practices medicine in a busy Cardiologist practice. By evening she switches her white coat for more relaxed comfortable clothing. She has two wonderful adult sons and a very spoiled chocolate lab. In the wee hours of the night, she writes BDSM romances. 

In her spare time when not working or writing, Abigail enjoys reading, concocting vegetarian dishes, exotic vacations, scuba diving, high adventure activities, living in the lifestyle she writes about, and doing lots and lots of research making sure her characters get it just right.

If you’d like to become part of Abigail’s street team or become a beta reader for future books, drop Abigail a message on FB @ abigailleejustice or 

Visit her website @ www.abigailleejustice.com

D.L.'s Bio:

He preferred not to have one, but that might have changed. He may also have other links I'm not aware of. I'm looping them in here. 





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